Shri Sammed Shikharji, located near Giridih, district headquarters of Giridih district in Jharkhand state, India, is one of the most sacred places for jains in the world. 20 out of 24 tirthankaras attained nirvana from here.

These Tirthankars are:

1. Shri Ajitnath Ji
2. Shri Sambhavnath Ji
3. Shri Abhinandan Ji
4. Shri Sumatinath Ji
5. Shri Padmprabhu Ji
6. Shri Suparshwanath Ji
7. Shri Chandraprabhu Ji
8. Shri Suvidhinath Ji
9. Shri Sheetalnath Ji
10. Shri Shreyansnath Ji
11. Shri Vimalnath Ji
12. Shri Anantnath Ji
13. Shri Dharmnath Ji
14. Shri Shantinath Ji
15. Shri Kunthunath Ji
16. Shri Arnath Ji
17. Shri Mallinath Ji
18. Shri Munisuvratnath Ji
19. Shri Neminath Ji
20. Shri Parshwanath Ji

Mentions of Sammet Shikhar

(taken from a post by Y. Malaiya, used with permission)

The Prakrit Nirvana-Bhakti states:

aTThaabayammi usaho, champaae vaasupujja jiNaNaaho,
ujjante NemijiNo, paavaae Nibbudo mahaaviiro ||1||
veesam tu jiNavarindaa, amaraasura vandindaa dhudakilesaa,
sammede giri sihare NivvaaNa gayaa, Namo tesim ||2||

Trans. "On Ashtapad Lord Rishabha, at Champa Lord Vasupujya, On Urjayant (Girnar) Lord Nemi, and at Pava Lord Mahavir attained nirvana.||

And the rest 20 Lord Jinas, worshipped by the gods, entered Nirvana at the top of mount Sammed, "namo" to them."||

However it has been very difficult in the past to visit Samet Shikhar. It is surrounded by a

Pilgrimage to Sammed Shikhar was undertaken by only a few fortunate individuals. Here are couple of examples.

Poet Banarasidas mentions Hiranand, who under Mughal emperor Salim who had started a pilgrimage to Shikhar in Samvat 1659 from Allahabad:

tini pryag nagar son, kiino uddham paar,
snagh chalaayo sikhir kon, utaryo gangaa paar.||

In samvat 1863, Raichand Chhabra, the Diwan of Jaipur organized a massive sangha for pilgrimage:

adhika chyaarsai rath ar bail, ashva chaarasau tinkii gail,
sutar doyasau tin parivaar, nar naari gini pa.nch hajaar||

Trans: More than 400 ox-wagons, 400 mounted horses, 200 camels, all carried 5000 men and women.

The simple tribals living in the area are thus described:

madhuvan ke vaasii nar naarii, saral gariib suddha chit dhaari,
tan upar ati ochho chiir, lambii chotii syaam sariir.||

Trans: The residents of Madhuvan are simple and poor but of noble nature. Wearing very little clothes, dark skinned with a long "choti".

The shravakas bathed at Sita Nala and joyously worshipped at the sacred mountain. The leader ("Sanghapati") gave a feast. Donations of Rupees and Gold coins were given to the shrines.